Research in Glasgow

Dr Stephen Yarwood and his team at the University of Glasgow are looking at the type of chronic inflammation associated with heart attacks and stroke.

Dr Yarwood says: “There is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies to combat the chronic inflammation associated with cardiovascular diseases.

“Chronic inflammation can develop due to increased levels of inflammatory ‘messengers’, or cytokines, in the circulation. In the case of conditions like coronary heart disease, this inflammation involves excessive ‘leakiness’ and increased attachment of white blood cells to the vascular endothelial cells or VECs that line the blood vessels.

“This causes long-term damage, including blocked arteries and blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes. Moreover, attempts to use stents to restore blocked arteries often fail due to this kind of inflammation.

“We have discovered that activation of the enzyme, EPAC1, can suppress this inflammatory activity in VECs and may therefore be an attractive therapeutic target.”

We’re currently funding over £18 million worth of cardiovascular disease research at the University of Glasgow – and nearly £58 million at universities and institutions throughout Scotland.

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British Heart Foundation is a registered Charity No. 225971. Registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 699547. Registered office at Greater London House, 180 Hampstead Road, London NW1 7AW. Registered as a Charity in Scotland No. SC039426 .